STORY: Police in riot gear pushed towards a group of protesters launching fireworks, flares and smoke bombs during a demonstration in the Olympic host city of Milan on Saturday (February 7).

Reuters footage showed the police moving in a street to disperse a group of protesters as smoke filled the air and fireworks exploding in the skies.

More than 5,000 people had taken to the streets of Milan in a protest over housing costs and environmental concerns on the first full day of the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

The march, organised by grassroots unions, housing-rights groups and social centre community activists, is seeking to highlight what activists call an increasingly unsustainable city model marked by soaring rents and deepening inequality.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: MILAN, ITALY (FEBRUARY 7, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. FIREWORKS AND SMOKE RISING ABOVE ROAD, POLICE VEHICLES

2. POLICE IN RIOT GEAR NEXT TO VEHICLE, FIREWORKS EXPLODING AND SMOKE

3. POLICE IN RIOT GEAR MOVING TOWARDS PROTESTERS AS FIREWORKS EXPLODE AND SMOKE FILLS THE STREET

4. SMOKE/POLICE TRUCK MOVING AND HORN SOUNDING

5. POLICE TRUCK REVERSING AND POLICE IN RIOT GEAR MOVING BACKWARDS, PEOPLE IN THE STREET AHEAD RUNNING

6. VARIOUS OF POLICE IN RIOT GEAR MOVING TOWARDS PROTESTERS